The Springfield Police Department has concluded its traffic investigation into the officer-involved vehicle crash on March 22, at Battlefield Road and Kansas Expressway that seriously injured a Springfield man.
Cris Swaters, Springfield Police Department spokesperson, confirmed Officer Isaiah Houseknecht is on restricted duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation into his actions leading up to the accident that occurred while he was on duty.
Details from traffic investigation released
According to a news release about the traffic investigation, 27-year-old Houseknecht was driving a Ford Police Interceptor SUV eastbound on Battlefield Road with his emergency lights and siren activated. It was 8:53 p.m.
Tammie Trolinger, 42, from Springfield was driving a red Cadillac DeVille southbound on Kansas Expressway near Battlefield. The two vehicles collided in the intersection. The collision caused the police SUV to hit two vehicles that were stationary on northbound Kansas Expressway.
A passenger in the Cadillac DeVille, Anthony Jones, 47, was transported to the hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.
According to police, the traffic investigation revealed the Cadillac DeVille had a green light for southbound Kansas Expressway. Houseknecht's police vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed and entered the intersection while there was a red light for traffic on eastbound Battlefield.
The Springfield Police Department is conducting an internal investigation regarding Houseknecht’s actions.
Swaters said she is unable to provide any other information due to pending civil litigation.
Missouri statute 304.022 provides procedure for emergency vehicle drivers. A provision in the statute allows the driver of an emergency vehicle to legally “Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation.”
